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2010

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FLL - Smart Move: Consider this...Golden Rules

For the FLL competition teams may use just about anything LEGO, as far as non-electrical parts are concerned, on their robot. However, there are restrictions on the use of "electrical" parts (click on image)

Keep in mind these rules refer to the robot & attachments that the team uses in the Game Performance & Robot Design.

As for the programming software, teams may use LEGO NXT MINDSTORMS (any release version), RoboLab for the RCX & RoboLab 2.9 for the NXT.

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FIRST & President Obama's Educate to Innovate...

Reee-Bot the Roving Robot Reporter here with exciting news…

On November 23, 2009, President Obama announced the “Educate to Innovate” initiative, a campaign to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There at the announcement was Dean Kamen of FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) along with the FRC team from Oakton HS from Vienna, Virginia; who gave a demonstration of their robot (seen towards the end of the video).

See the video @ http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/president-obama-kicks-educate-innovate

"As president, I believe that robotics can imspire young people to pursue science and engineering."

Thank you Mr. President Obama for supporting FIRST...

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Different NXT kits - What's in the boxes...

If anyone is looking for a comparison of elements in the various NXT kit versions (Educational, Consumer 1.0, & Consumer 2.0,) check out the following website, it has a comparison of elements & their numbers:

http://static.robotclub.ab.ca/pages/nxt/InventoryComparison/nxt_1_vs_2_vs_edu.html

Also, keep in mind that there is a difference in the software in each kit version, but all files will work with each software, provided they are using the same programming blocks (you can download sensor blocks to be imported to any version of the NXT from HiTechnic). However, downloading the file to the NXT may ask to download that particular firmware, if it is different on the NXT you are downloading to.

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LDD Revisited...

For the person who sent the comment about FLL Smart Move-Consider this...LDD
thank you for your comment, it has been published with the post.

The picture of the motor is just a simple example of what a print out would look like. You can design attachments or even a whole robot (or practically any LEGO project), then print a final picture of it (from several view points), print out step-by-step instructions for building it, or view the instructions on the computer. What is helpful about this is that you can save it for future use, make easy changes in your design before building, or share the instructions with someone else or your team.

LDD LEGO Digital Designer is just another handy tool that might help you with your designs.

If you have ever been on Mindstorms NXTLOG website some of the projects give you the LDD file for building the model. Check it out...

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LEGO Pop-Up...

To build a model of Japan’s most treasured landmarks, Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion, out of LEGO elements is quite a feat; but to build one that is a Pop-Up out of a box also made of LEGO elements is outstanding! The builder, Talapz, is amazing! Check out the YouTube video:



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HS Girls in Robotics - Grant Opportunity...

Sponsored by Bank of America, the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing recognizes young women -- in grades 9 to 12 -- for their computing-related achievements and interests. Awardees are selected for their demonstrated, outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology/computing, solid leadership ability, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education. If one of your Team members falls into this category, visit http://www.ncwit.org/award

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FLL – Smart Move: Consider this…Gears Tutorial

Maybe you are planning to use gears on your robot? Here is a very nice tutorial on Gears for both FLL & FTC:

http://sariel.pl/category/tutorials/

http://sariel.pl/2009/06/worm-gear-casings/

http://sariel.pl/2009/04/2-speed-automatic-gearbox/

http://sariel.pl/2009/03/3-studs-wide-differential-bracings/

http://sariel.pl/2009/01/limited-slip-differential/

http://sariel.pl/2009/01/5-speed-linear-gearbox/

http://sariel.pl/2009/01/direction-sensitive-gearbox/

Sariel’s site is one of the best tutorials on LEGO® gears, that I have seen, so far. Although the site itself is not specifically NXT, his work with LEGO® gears, Technic, & Power Functions provides a goldmine of ideas that could be applied to the NXT. Excellent!!!

Check out his LEGO® Technic models too...

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FLL – Smart Move: Consider This…Missions video

Here is the break-down of the missions (click to enlarge & print):

One excellent video of the missions is at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4lgFuYmAMc&feature=related

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FLL – Smart Move: Consider This…LDD

OK, a team member has a brilliant idea for a robot design and needs to share it with the rest of the team, but is not artistically inclined. Well, there is an excellent tool to help get the ideas across. Teams can download the free LEGO® Digital Designer at http://factory.lego.com/default.aspxry.lego.com/default.aspx . The design can be constructed on the computer, then viewed and printed out. It even produces, step-by-step instructions, as to the best way to build it. Is that cool or what!?

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It's official - FLL Kick-Off...

FLL Smart Move
season is officially opened!

go to for info, mission explanations, research project, rules, etc.:

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/fll/smartmove1.aspx

For those who wish to register, do it soon before registration closes:

https://gofll.usfirst.org/

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Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic, & Robotics...

As another school year starts perhaps school administrators & parents need to take a good look at our schools' curriculum. Are we really giving our students a complete education or are we fixated on test score? Many inner city schools focus on obtaining better test scores, particularly in reading & math, so their curriculum focus tends to teach to the tests; and well everything else is less important & fillers.


So what does this have to do with robotics!!! Just bear with me I will get to it.

OK let's say test scores improve & students graduate with decent scores; higher education & the business world is saying, yes they have nice scores but they are lacking in skills, creativity, & have not really learned to apply the concepts or understand them to put the knowledge to use. Departments of Education may brag about test scores are up, but are the students capable of applying what they regurgitate on paper?

So are our schools properly preparing our students to be productive citizens or are they graduating "I look good on paper, but I really don't know what to do with it - except take a test?"

Don't misunderstand me, there are many wonderful schools with well-round curriculum, & innovative teaching that allows students to be hands-on, who are graduating students that are creative & can apply what they have learned. However, there are also many schools, particularly in the inner cities, that unfortunately focus their monies & efforts on just raising test scores (I know because I taught in a few of these types of schools); creative teaching, hands-on learning, & "non-major subjects" have less priority - maybe that's why students are losing interest in school.

Now for the 4th R - Robotics (and yes, there are other subjects that allow students to apply the concepts through hands-on experiences)... In the early 1900's educator John Dewey professed the educational principle that we learn better and retain more by developing problem solving & critical thinking skills; accomplished by learning through imaging, experimentation, discovery, & putting it into practice: LEARNING by DOING - in the case of robotics: LEARNING by BUILDING! Besides the obvious concepts that can be learned & skills developed in math, science, & technology, a robotics program done right will also require the practice of reading & writing skills (and some history can be thrown in too).

If a school has not looked at the benefits of a robotics program, perhaps they should check the research; and then perhaps they will see how a robotics program will help encourage students to be imaginative, independent learners who think creatively, analyze situations and apply critical thinking & problem solving skills to real world problems. A bonus benefit - we possibly get students excited about math, science, technology, & school in general; plus, robotics seems to have a positive effect on test scores - most of my robotics students (of various academic levels) expressed an improvement in some of their major subjects & reading/math tests. Seems like a win-win situation to me...

Some research:
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ768878&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ768878

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ570775&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ570775

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